The Spaniard has not featured for the Gunners since the Champions League game with Ludogorets in October 2016 due to a series of problems with his Achilles which have seen him now go under the knife a staggering nine times in 14 months.

At one stage a bacterial infection could have seen the midfielder lose his leg, but it had looked like he had finally come through the worst of the problem following treatment in Spain.

A potential return to training was on the cards in January, but those plans were wrecked by the shattering news last week that he needed yet another bout of surgery following a setback.

Santi Cazorla has not played a competitive fixture since October 2016 (Image: PA)

He went under the knife last Monday and Arsene Wenger admits he now has no idea when Cazorla - whose Arsenal contract expires in the summer - could return.

“I sent him a message because he had surgery and wished him well,” said the Gunners boss, “He (Cazorla) answered ‘I have to start again from zero’.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during a training session at London Colney (Image: PA)

“It’s very sad. What Santi has gone through is unbelievable. It’s really, really sad. But unfortunately he has to start again from zero.”

Wenger added: “If all goes well he has to wait until he starts to run and after he starts to run it takes six weeks to come back to training.

“When he can start to run again I don’t know. I was hopeful of January, but after this setback certainly now not before February.”